Lost your medical? Here's how to sell the airplane without the runaround.
If you're reading this, you probably know the situation already: a Class 3 medical that didn't get renewed, a special issuance that fell through, a heart event or DUI or sleep apnea that's now in the FAA's file, or simply a doctor who said "we should talk before you keep flying." Either way, the airplane is in your hangar and you can't legally fly it.
I've talked to a hundred pilots in your spot. Most of them tell me the same thing: nobody warned me how expensive it would be to just own a grounded airplane. Hangar rent, insurance (yes — you still need it sitting), the annual coming due, batteries dying, tires flat-spotting, mice in the cowling. It bleeds.
You have four real options. Let's go through them honestly.
Option 1: Wait for special issuance and resume flying
If your condition is genuinely workable through AME / FAA SI, and you actually want to fly again, this is the right path — but it usually takes 6–18 months and isn't cheap. If your heart is in it, do it. If you're already over flying, you'll spend a year and a few thousand dollars chasing a result you don't really want.
Option 2: Switch to BasicMed
BasicMed works for many pilots flying smaller piston singles under specific weight, altitude, and passenger limits. If your condition qualifies you for BasicMed (you must have held a valid medical at some point on or after July 14, 2006, and meet a few other criteria), this can be the fastest path back into the cockpit.
But — BasicMed has restrictions, and not every condition or aircraft works under it. Talk to a real aviation medical examiner before assuming you're eligible.
Option 3: Lease the airplane to a flight school or partner
Possible, but most owners regret it. Leaseback math looks good on the spreadsheet — until your engine swallows a valve, the student bends a gear leg, or the school decides to stop flying the type. You're still on the hook for the airframe. And if you're already done with aircraft ownership, "be a long-distance landlord on your airplane" usually doesn't scratch the itch.
Option 4: Sell the airplane and close the chapter
The cleanest exit. The question is how.
Selling through a broker (the slow road)
Broker lists your airplane, charges 8–10% commission, and waits for retail buyers to surface. Average general aviation airplane sits on the market for 4–8 months. During that time:
- You're still paying hangar (often $300–$600/mo)
- You're still paying ground-risk insurance ($800–$2,000/yr)
- Your annual will likely come due (and if it lapses, the airplane gets harder to sell)
- Pre-buys can fall apart at the last minute
- Buyer financing can collapse
If your airplane is turnkey, in annual, and you can afford to wait — this path can yield a higher gross number. If any of those conditions don't hold, the math gets ugly fast.
Selling to a cash buyer (the fast road)
This is what we do at Cash4Planes. We're a principal buyer — we use our own funds, make an offer in 24 hours, and close in days. No commission, no listing photos, no 6-month wait. We come to your ramp.
The honest tradeoff: our number won't be the absolute peak of a perfect retail sale. But it's a real number you can act on this week, and once you factor in commission, holding costs, and the time value of money, the gap is usually much smaller than owners assume. For owners in a grounded-medical situation, the speed and certainty almost always win.
What to do this week
- Stop paying for things you don't need. If the airplane isn't going anywhere this year, cancel motion insurance and downgrade to ground-only. Talk to your hangar landlord about a short-term arrangement.
- Get a real number on the table. Call us at (386) 209-6722 or request an offer online. Worst case, you know what your airplane is worth in a quick sale. Best case, you're done in 10 days.
- Decide on your timeline, not the broker's. If you'd rather wait for retail, that's a legitimate choice — but make it deliberately, not by default while the meter runs.
We've been on this side of this conversation more than 70 times. There's no judgement, no awkward sales script. Just an honest read on what the airplane is worth and a way out if you want one.